Method of making hot and cold packs



Se t. 4, 1951 N. J. PQUX METHOD OF MAKING HOT AND COLD PACKS Filed July 5, 1947 'IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII INVENTOR. Noel J Poux.

Patented Sept. 4, 195 1 UNITED STATES Parser orrice METHOD OF MAKING HOT AND COLD PACKS Noel J. Poux, Mcadville, Pa.

Application July 5, 1947, Serial No. 759,5)?!

(Cl. lit-59) 5v Claims.

This invention relates to a method of making therapeutical devices, or to ice and hot packs or bags as they are more commonly called.

The present invention relates to a method of making the type of therapeutical device in which a liquid is permanently sealed for heating or cooling the human body. While such devices have been heretofore suggested and used, they usually were bulky and complicated in their construction and design and were expensive to manufacture. Furthermore, due to such bulkiness, they were cumbersome and not practical in their use.

It is the general object of the present invention to provide an improved method of manufacturing a therapeutical device which is relatively simple and inexpensive and, at the same time, provide such a device which is efficient and effective in its use.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a method of making a therapeutical de vice having a liquid permanently sealed therein made of relatively thin and light weight flexible material, either sheet or film stock, so as to provide such a device which is extremely light, flexible and durable in its construction.

t is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved method of making an improved therapeutical device in which a liquid is permanently sealed which requires a minimum amount of relatively inexpensive equipment and apparatus for fabricating the same.

Various other objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent in the course of the following specification, and will be paricularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, there is shown for the purpose of illustration, several embodiments which my invention may assume in practice.

In. these drawings:

1 is a cross sectional view of the tubular material from which my improved device is fabricated;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of my device after it has been fabricated;

3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of the tubular material for another form of the device of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view showing the first step in fabricating this latter form;

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view showing another step in fabricating this modified form;

Fig. '7 is a cross sectional view showing how the modified form shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is assembled;

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view showing another manner in which the tubing shown in Fig. 5 may be assembled;

9 is a cross sectional view showing another form of construction of the device of my invention;

Fig. 10 is a cross sectional view showing another step in fabricating the tubing for this latter form; and

11 is a cross sectional view showing how this latter form of the tubing shown in Figs. 9 and 10 is assembled.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1, 2, and of the drawings, the improved method ofmalctherapeutical device of my invention of the "clef-cred form consists in providing an elongated tubular member 2 made of a relatively thin flexible impervious material, such as rubber, but is made preferably from a synthetic plastic material, such as vinyl, polyvinyl, polyethylene, nylon, and acetate, either film or sheet stock. This tubular member 2 is first filled with a suitable liquid, preferably water, with the ends thereof scaled or otherwise secured so as to prevent the liquid from escaping therefrom. The opposed inner walls of the tubular member are then secured together, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, at spaced-apart intervals, as at 2%, both longitudinally and laterally thereof so as to provide a wafi1e-like design of a series of permanently sealed and independent liquid containing compartments which are preferably rectangularshaped, having substantially an oval shape cross section but may have any desired shape. It will be understood that a portion of the liquid'dis posed within the tubular member 2 is trapped and sealed in each of the compartments l when the opposed inner walls are secured together.

The opposed walls are secured together at 3 so as n treatment.

The tubular member 2 may be of a certain specified length or it may be of a continuous length and reeled on a roll. In the latter event, the desired length to be used for any particular treatment could be cut from the continuous roll at one of the fiat portions 5 between the compartments. For example, if it were desired to use the device for cooling the neck, for example, in treatment of a tonsilectomy, the desired length of the article required to encompass the neck would be cut from the roll.

In Figs. 5, 6, and 7, there is shown a slight modified form of making the device of my invention. In this construction, there is provided a smaller tubular member 6 having a smaller diameter than that in the preferred form. A plurality of lengths of material are first cut to length, the number depending upon the width of the device desired. The opposed inner walls of one length are then secured together continuously throughout the length thereof, as at 7, so as to provide a relatively flat and wide rib-like portion 8 along that edge of that length, as shown in Fig. 5. If it is desired to have a device having a width equivalent to the width of only two lengths, two of such lengths are laid side by side in parallel relation with the rib-like portions 8 disposed in overlapped relation, as shown in Fig. 8. These overlapped rib-like portions are then secured together, as at 9, preferably electronically if the material is capable of such. The tubular members are filled with a suitable liquid, preferably water, and sealed at each end so as to prevent the water from escaping therefrom either before or after the rib-like portions 8 are formed along the edges thereof. The opposed inner walls of both tubular members 6 are then secured together transversely thereof at spacedapart intervals so as to provide a series of permanently sealed and independent liquid-containing compartments (not shown) similar to the compartments shown in the form of Fig. 2.

If it is desired to make a device having a width equivalent to the width of three or more lengths, the intermediate lengths of material are formed, as shown in Fig. 6, that is, opposed longitudinal edge portions of the tubular lengths are secured together, as at 9, throughout the length thereof so as to provide a relatively wide and flat riblike portion I!) along each edge thereof. The lengths are then laid side by side, as shown in Fig. 7, with the rib-like portion H) of one of the lengths overlapping the rib-like portion 8 of the outermost length and with the other rib-like portion thereof overlapping the rib-like portion ID of the next succeeding length or the rib-like portion 8 of the other outermost length, as the case may be. The overlapped portions are then secured together, as at l2, as before, to provide a series of parallel tubular members integrally connected together. Each of the tubular mem'- bers,-as before, is filled with a liquid either before or after the rib-like portions 8 and III are formed along the edges of the tubular members. The opposed inner walls of each of the tubular members are then secured together, as before, transversely thereof at spaced-apart intervals so as to provide a device having a series of permanently sealed and independent liquid-containing compartments (not shown) similar to the compartments of the construction shown in Fig. 2.

In Figs. 9, 10, and 11, there is shown another method of making the device in accordance with the present invention. This construction is similar to that shown in Figs. 4 through 8 in that the device is made from a plurality of lengths of tubular material, as shown in Fig. 4. In this form, the lower edge portion of one of the lengths l3 of material is secured longitudinally thereof so as to provide the rib-like portion l4 along that edge and the intermediate length or lengths l5. as the case may be, are provided with two riblike portions I6, one on either side at the bottom thereof so as to provide substantially a continuous flat and smooth bottom surface, as at H,

after the lengths are secured together, as at l8,

at the overlapped portions l4, 16, with the upper surface thereof having an irregular contour. It will be understood that the lengths of tubular material are filled with a suitable liquid, as before, either before or after the rib-like portions [4 and [6 have been formed along the edges of the lengths. It will be seen then that there is provided a member now consisting of a plurality of parallel tubular members positioned in sideby-side relation which have been filled with a liquid with the opposed inner walls of each of the tubular members transversely secured together so as to provide a series of permanently sealed and independent liquid-containing compartments (not shown) as before, similar to those shown in Fig. 2.

It will be understood that my improved therapeutical device can be made sufficiently small and flexible to be used in a bandage form. That is to say, my device may be made relatively narrow and light with a series of smaller liquid-containing compartments so that it can be wrapped around the particular part of the body to be treated similar to a bandage. This, it will be seen, is a decided advantage in some cases of treatment of the patient.

If the device of the present invention is to be used as a cold pack to withdraw heat from the body, the device is placed in a deep freeze unit or other refrigerating unit so as to freeze the liquid in the individual compartments. Even if the liquid is frozen solid in each of the compartments, the device will not be damaged and will remain extremely flexible due to the relatively wide flat portions between each of the compartments. It is, of course, desirable that the device be kept refrigerated at all times so that it is ready instantly for use. This is particularly recommended in the case of hospital or Sanitarium usage.

In the event the device is to be used as a hot pack to heat the body, the device is submerged in boiling water or placed in a steam unit or other suitable heating unit until the liquid in the compartments has reached the desired temperature. It has been found that such heating will not damage the device, particularly if it is made from one of the vinyls.

As a result of my invention, it will be seen that there is provided a therapeutical device which is extremely flexible both in its use and its construction, in that it can be used either as a cold pack or a hot pack and can be bent or curved to conform to any part of the body to be treated. In addition, there is provided a device which is ready for use when it leaves the manufacturer thereby dispensing with the inconvenience of filling, emptying, and refilling the device each time it is used.

While I have shown and described several embodiments which my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that these embodiments are merely for the purpose of illustration and description, and that other forms may be devised within the scope of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. The method of making a device of the class described which comprises providing a plurality of elongated tubular members with each made from a relatively thin and flexible impervious material, securing together the opposed inner walls of each of said tubular members at least along one longitudinal edge thereof so as to provide a rib-like portion along said edge, positioning the tubular members in side-by-side relation with the rib-like portion of one overlapping the rib-like portion of the next succeeding tubular member, securing together the tubular members at said overlapped rib-like portions, disposing a quantity of a liquid in each of said tubular members, and securing together the opposed inner walls of each of said tubular members at spacedapart intervals transversely thereof so as to provide a unitary body member having a series of permanently sealed and independent liquid-containing compartments.

2. The method of making a device of the class described which comprises providing a plurality of elongated tubular members with each made from a relatively thin and flexible impervious material and having longitudinally extending edge portions, positioning said tubular members in side-by-side relation with the edge portion of one overlapping the edge portion of the next succeeding tubular member, securing the tubular portions to one another at said overlapped edge portions so as to provide a unitary body member, disposing'a quantity of a liquid in each of said tubular members, and sealing the ends of each of said tubular members so as to provide a body member having a plurality of permanently sealed and independent liquid-containing compartments.

3. The method of making a device of the class described which comprises providing a. plurality of elongated tubular members with each made from a relatively thin and flexibl impervious material and having longitudinally extending edge portions, positioning said tubular members in side-by-side relation with the edge portion of one overlapping the edge portion of the next succeeding tubular member, securing the tubular portions to one another at said overlapped edge portions so as to provide a unitary body member, disposing a quantity of a liquid in each of said tubular members, securing together the opposed inner walls of each of said tubular members at spaced-apart intervals both transversely and longitudinally thereof so as to provide a body memher having a series of permanently sealed and independent liquid-containing compartments.

4. The method of making a device of the class described which comprises providing a plurality of elongated tubular members with each made from a relatively thin and flexible impervious material and having longitudinally extending edge portions, positioning said tubular members in side-by-side relation with the edge portion of one overlapping the edge portion of the next succeeding tubular member, securing the tubular portions to one another at said overlapped edge portions so as to provide a unitary body member, and sealing the ends of each of said tubular members so as to provide a body member having a plurality of permanently sealed and independent compartments.

5. The method of making a device of the class described which comprises providing a plurality of elongated tubular members with each made from a relatively thin and flexible impervious material and having longitudinally extending edge portions, positioning said tubular members in side-by-side relation with the edge portion of one overlapping the edge portion of the next succeeding tubular member, securing the tubular portions to one another at said overlapped edge portions so as to provide a unitary body member, securing together the opposed inner walls of each of said tubular members at spaced-apart intervals both transversely and longitudinally thereof so as to provide a body member having a series of permanently sealed and independent compartments.

NOEL J. POUX.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 254,265 Bone Feb. 28, 1882 1,318,292 Laskey Oct. 7, 1919 1,607,626 Hopkinson Nov. 23, 1926 1,628,333 Schaub May 10, 1927 1,739,625 Walters Dec. 17, 1929 2,008,659 Salfisberg July 16, 1935 2,071,706 Reach Feb. 23, 1937 2,120,013 Bates June 7, 1938 2,203,591 Brown June 4, 1940 2,237,971 Padelford Apr. 8, 1941 2,335,159 Salfisberg Nov. 23, 1943 2,397,232 Barnes et a1 Mar. 26, 1946 2,420,983 Salfisberg May 20, 1947 

